CAL SODHI
Cal Sodhi’s houses are spacious, comfortable and very romantic. They are surrounded by meadows and forests and open like a balcony to the valley with spectacular views of the mountains. We are pioneers in the use of renewable energies. Here we don’t get the power line like most Europeans, and the autonomous photovoltaic solar energy installation has been providing us with electricity for thirty years. Hot water is generated with solar thermal panels and most of the heating is done with wood.
We make our small contribution to the preservation of the nature around us and the planet, and we like to share this experience with you.
The small village of Argestues is hidden in one of the most unknown areas of the Pyrenees, in the Valls d’Aguilar, in the region of Alt Urgell, 16 km from La Seu d’Urgell and 26 km from Andorra, near Cerdanya and Pallars.
Traditionally, Argestues had four houses; all its inhabitants left to live elsewhere in the 1960s, leaving it uninhabited for forty years, and the buildings fell into ruins.
At the beginning of this century, we started the reconstruction of the village to live there, raise our children, and offer charming restored rural houses.
HOW TO GET
TO ARGESTUES
The detour to reach Argestues is exactly at kilometer 172 of the C-14, halfway between Organyà and La Seu d’Urgell. You have to cross the bridge over the river Segre and go towards Noves de Segre, which is two kilometers away. When you arrive in Noves de Segre, follow the signs to Argestues. Here the road gets narrower, it’s a mountain road, but it’s tarred and good. Continue straight for about 6 kilometers and if you feel like you’re lost you’re probably fine. When you reach the Argestues meadows, turn left which goes up a small hill and you have arrived. Some navigators show other routes on dirt tracks, which are difficult unless you have a 4×4. The only access by tarred road is through Noves de Segre.
CAL PASTISSER
IN TAÚS
Taús had been a fairly large mountain village with a school, inn, shops, blacksmith, carpenter, priest, and our grandfather was the pastry chef. On the ground floor of Cal Pastisser was the village bar. Life changed, most of the population left, and now we have rehabilitated the family home to offer you comfortable and welcoming accommodation in an environment with truly spectacular nature and wildlife. We are next to the protected natural area of the Serra de Boumort with an important population of deer and the only place in all of Europe where the four species of vultures from our continent breed. You can rest in a charming house and enjoy a privileged environment.
Taús is located at 1,500 meters above sea level, in the Alt Urgell region, in the municipality of Valls d’Aguilar, in the westernmost part of the municipality, almost on the border with Pallars. This small population center has an extensive territory of meadows and forests, mountains, and the river nearby, with excellent biodiversity. It is the territory of deer, roe deer, eagles, vultures, foxes, and wild boars. In autumn, we enjoy the spectacular deer rut. Excursions of short or long duration can be made from the house itself, with landscapes of high mountain beauty.
HOW TO GET
TO TAÚS
The detour to get to Taús is precisely at kilometer point 172 of the C-14, halfway between Organyà and La Seu d’Urgell. You have to cross the bridge over the river Segre and go towards Noves de Segre, which is two kilometers away. When you arrive in Noves de Segre, follow the signs for Taús. The road is tarred and good until Taús. Some navigators show other routes on dirt tracks, which are difficult unless you have a 4×4. The only access by tarred road is through Noves de Segre. In the winter we recommend wearing chains although you rarely need to use them. In the mountains, you never know when a good snow may fall.
LA BORDA DEL FEU
IN LA GUÀRDIA D’ARES
La Borda del Feu has been the family home for three generations, and we have recently prepared it for rent and offer it to you so that you can rest and enjoy a very special place in the middle of nature. The house has garden areas, hammocks, dining in the shed, outdoor pool, nordic bath, and is surrounded by large grounds of our property, with the river and forest very close. The nature and fauna are spectacular. The entire property is rented to your group, and you will not share any space with any other guests. We are currently working on an energy efficiency project to install photovoltaic solar panels to generate electricity, and aerothermic equipment to provide heating and hot water.
La Borda del Feu is an isolated farmhouse near La Guàrdia d’Ares, which is at about 1,600 meters above sea level and is one of the highest villages in Catalonia, in Les Valls d’Aguilar, in the Alt Urgell region. The entire municipality has very little population, so there are no shops or restaurants here. Nature is of great beauty, and it is very common to see wild animals, which is exceptional and very special. The high mountains have a lot of appeal throughout the year; in spring, everything comes alive and is filled with color, in summer it’s cool, in autumn you can search for mushrooms and hear the deer rut, and in winter, we often have snow, and it’s very cozy by the fire.
HOW TO GET
TO LA GUÀRDIA D’ARES
The detour to reach the Guàrdia d’Ares is exactly at kilometer 172 of the C-14, halfway between Organyà and Seu d’Urgell. You have to cross the bridge over the river Segre and go towards Noves de Segre, which is two kilometers away. When you arrive in Noves de Segre, follow the signs to the Ares Guard. The road is tarred and well. After passing the town of La Guàrdia d’Ares you will find a blue sign indicating Tarter dels Manairons and Borda del Feu. Take this turning left. At the second sign for Tarter dels Manairons, take the left hand turn that goes uphill and you have already arrived at Borda del Feu. Some navigators show other routes on dirt tracks, which are difficult unless you have a 4×4. The only access by tarred road is through Noves de Segre.
Booking information
- When making the reservation, 50% of the price of the stay is charged as a reservation deposit. The rest is paid upon arrival at the house.
- If the reservation is canceled fifteen days in advance, the reservation deposit is returned.
- In all the houses there is the kitchen equipment to be able to cook, plates, cutlery, glasses, wine and cava glasses, cups, the coffee maker is one of the Italian ones from all my life that boils the water to make the coffee. There is a small pot with a little oil, vinegar, salt and sugar, but not enough for everyday cooking. There is soap for washing the dishes and for the dishwasher, scouring pad, dishcloth, kitchen towels, tablecloths…
- In the rooms, the beds are made, there is hand soap, but no shampoo or shower gel, hair dryer, iron, hand and shower towels, but not pool towels.
- All rooms are doubles for a maximum of 2 people.
- In the houses of Cal Sodhi d’Argestues there is a sofa bed that can be used by children. Ask for availability and we will inform you of the supplement.
- A child under the age of three can sleep with the parents or in a cot. You need to let us know.
- We leave wood for the stove and the barbecue. Customers often bring a charcoal bag because this makes the charcoal easier and faster.
- There is no barbecue at Cal Pastisser de Táus.
- If you bring a pet, you must communicate this, a supplement of 25 euros per pet and stay is charged, and a deposit of 100 euros is left, which is returned once the cleaning has been done and it has been checked that there has been no damage . Pets cannot be left alone at home.
- We recommend that you shop before you arrive because the shops are far away. If you come to the houses of Argestues, you will surely like to visit the shop of local products of the Farm of Argestues.
- In the winter we recommend wearing chains although you rarely need to use them. In the winter in the mountains, you never know when a good snow may fall.
The outdoor Nordic baths of Borda del Feu and Cal Sodhi are drained in the winter months so they don’t freeze.
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